The world of art in mourning. A senior artist forces the 1960s, has passed away. She is Maria Tjui, Indonesian female painter born in Pariaman, West Sumatra, May 14, 1934.
Maria Tjui began to study painting at the age of 20 (1955-1958) by joining the Seniman Indonesia Muda (SIM), Yogyakarta under the guidance of S. Sudjojono. Then she finalizing membership to pursue studies painted sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts Indonesia (ASRI), Yogyakarta (1961-1963).

During college, she briefly held first solo exhibition at Balai Budaya Jakarta (1962). Graduated from college, the third of seven siblings chose to stay in the village of Peliatan, Ubud, Bali (1964). Here's where Mary spent her old age, to know nature and appreciate the culture of Balinese. Not surprisingly, some of her paintings take on the background area of Bali with the social and cultural conditions. Not only work, she also founded the studio with the painter Peliatan Purnama.

Not satisfied with the Bali, Mary travel to several countries in Asia for three years (1967-1970). While there, she held a solo exhibition several times. Apparently Maria Tjui missed her homeland. She returned to Indonesia (1970) and continues to exhibit.

Noted solo exhibition ever held in Jakarta, Surabaya, Bali, Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Taipei, Padang, and Medan. Maria also participated in joint exhibitions, both domestically and abroad. One of them is the exhibition organized by the International Advisory Committee, Very Special Arts at the John F. Kennedy Center, Washington DC, USA. Maria Tjui alongside other international artists representing 67 countries around the world in the exhibition. Maria Tjui also been invited by the Foundation Dr. Sun Yat Sen to exhibit at the Museum of Sun Yat Sen, Taipei.

Maria Tjui was special indeed. In her time, not easy for a woman to plunge as an artist and the single life. Desire painting was so great that he spent her whole life to art. "I'm busy painting, life just painted. For me painting was already more than anything else ", said Maria Tjui.

Firmness establishment of this that leads one Maria Tjui known as one of the great painters of Indonesian women with the style of painting graceful yet bold play of colors. She finds a match with the style of realist, impressionist, expressionist well. She was so loyal painting a landscape. Maria also appeared in the pro-people taste the object of the old houses and the lives of small communities such as farmers, fishermen, cake sellers, and sellers of birds.

Maria Tjui painting style seems glimpsed her works collected by prominent figures such as Ibu Tien Soeharto, Mrs. Try Sutrisno, Adam Malik, and BJ Habibie. Not only that, three oil paintings on canvas works of Maria Tjui also be a collection of the National Gallery of Indonesia that once a state collection. These entries are Perahu Bali (1965), the size of 63.5 x 93.5 cm; People's Party (1964), size 59 x 88.5 cm; Old Town House and Jakarta (1992), the size of 94.5 x 114 cm.

Maria also donated two paintings to be a collection Sun Yat Sen Museum Taipei, Taiwan, in honor of Dr. Sun Yat Sen and a sign of friendship between Indonesia and Taiwan. More recently (2014), Maria Tjui also gave his paintings with objects Monas to Jakarta Provincial Government through Tjahaja Basuki Purnama (Ahok) who was then serving as Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta. The painting was then planned to be installed in the Hall of the City Hall.

Being a great artist does not necessarily make Maria forget themselves. She even contributed the proceeds of her paintings for social purposes. She also aspire to establish an art museum in Nusa Dua, Bali to perpetuate her artwork so that it becomes a cultural heritage that can be enjoyed by future generations.

But now Maria Tjui gone. She passed away at the age of 82 years, on Wednesday, November 16, 2016. Although the figure is no longer to be found, but the spirit of Mary Tjui and love with painting will live on to inspire the next generation of art of this country. Goodbye Maria Tjui ...

Source:
National Gallery of Indonesia, 2016

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Maria Tjui is known as one of Indonesia's great female painters with an elegant style of painting but daring to play with color. She found a match with realist, impressionist, and expressionist styles.

She is so loyal in painting natural landscapes, worship places and flowers. Maria also shows great concern for objects such as old houses and the lives of small communities such as farmers, fishermen, cake sellers and bird sellers.